Photobiotin is a
derivative of
biotin
Biotin (or vitamin B7) is one of the B vitamins. It is involved in a wide range of metabolic processes, both in humans and in other organisms, primarily related to the utilization of fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids. The name ''biotin'', bor ...
used as a biochemical tool. It is composed of a biotin group, a linker group, and a photoactivatable aryl
azide
In chemistry, azide is a linear, polyatomic anion with the formula and structure . It is the conjugate base of hydrazoic acid . Organic azides are organic compounds with the formula , containing the azide functional group. The dominant applic ...
group.
The photoactivatable group provides nonspecific labeling of proteins, DNA and RNA probes or other molecules.
Biotinylation of
DNA and
RNA
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. RNA and deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) are nucleic acids. Along with lipids, proteins, and carbohydra ...
with photoactivatable biotin is easier and less expensive than enzymatic methods since the DNA and RNA does not degrade. Photobiotin is most effectively activated by light at 260-475
nm.
References
#Billingsley, M. and J. Polli. “Preparation, characterization and biological properties of biotinylated derivatives of calmodulin.” ''Biochem J.'' 275 Pt 3(1991): 733–743
#"EZ-Link Photoactivatable Biotin." ''Pierce Biotechnology, Inc.'' Rockford, IL: June, 2003.
#"Components of Avidin-Biotin Technology: A Handbook." ''Pierce Biotechnology, Inc.'' Rockford, IL: June, 2003.
#"Photobiotin acetate." ''Sigma-Aldrich, Co.'' 2006.
#"Photoprobe biotin", ''Vector Laboratories, Inc.'', www.vectorlabs.com.
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#{{cite journal , doi = 10.1021/ac9702094 , title = Generation of Biotin/Avidin/Enzyme Nanostructures with Maskless Photolithography , year = 1997 , last1 = Dontha , first1 = Narasaiah , last2 = Nowall , first2 = Wilbur B. , last3 = Kuhr , first3 = Werner G. , journal = Analytical Chemistry , volume = 69 , issue = 14 , pages = 2619–2625 , pmid = 9230677
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